Coin-selecting mechanism



Ot. 8, 1929. J. J. SCHERMA CK 1,730,631

COIN SELECTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTOR N EYOct. 8, 192-9 J. J. SCHERMACK com SELECTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 22,1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W446 BY W6 m'toRmzY coin. The chutes orsections 13 and 14 are preferably of sheet metal and are rectangular incross-section, the inner dimensions being adapted to accommodate desiredcoins, in the 5 present instance, quarter-dollars. The section 13 issuitably mounted on the inner face of the door as by brackets 16 in aset position and preferably, as shown in Fig. 1, enters or istelescopedinto the upper end portion of the downwardly inclined section or element14 of the chute or runway. The'inclination of the section 14 beingvariable, as hereinafter described, it will be seen that the twosections 13 and 14 of the chute are relatively 1 5 settable. The sectionor chute 14 extends leftward as seen in Fig. 1, terminating in adownwardly turned end hich fits loosely into the upperfflaring endortion of a chute exten- 'sion 17 which extends downward and com- 2omunciates with a receptacle 18 for rejected coins. It may be noted atthis point that the chute section 13 is provided with a downwardlyextending off-chute or side drop 19 which likewise communicates with therecep-- tacle 18.

There is provided a two-part electro-magnet 20 comprising solenoids 21,vertically disposed core pieces 22 and horizontally disposed A polepieces 23 suitably secured to 'theupper ends of the corepieces. 111 Fig.3 is diagrammatically illustrated an electric'circuit for the magnet,the'positive wire 24 passing through a fuse box 25, the wire 24connecting with one solenoid; whereas the negative cur'rent passesthrough a fuse box' 26 and thence through a rheostat R conventionallyillustrated and which connects by a wire 27 with the other solenoid. Theelectro-magnet is supported on a horizontal bracket 28 which is fixed tothe inner face of the door 10, and the pole pieces,

as is plain from Fig. 2, project oppositely through the walls of' theinclined chute 14 preferably terminating in the planes of the innerfaces of said walls. In the neighborhood of the core pieces thesidewalls of the chute '14 are enlarged or embossed as indicated at 29,the enlargements being bored out so. as to fit over the pole pieceswhich thereby provide a support for the chute 14. The enlargementsreceive set screws 30 whereby the inclination of the chute 14 may bevaried,

swinging movements to obtain such variations taking place, of course,around the arms of the pole pieces. It will be understood thatatljustment of the chute 14 will not affect the other chutes or portions13 and 17.

Directly below the magnetic field which passes transversely of the chute14*between the pole pieces, the floor or bottom of the 5 chute is mademovable for a portion of its length between its ends. As herein showntheanovable portion is in the form of a balanced closure or trap door 31which fits in an opening 14 in the bottom of the chute and is providedwith a pivot 32 which bears in parallel extensions or ears 33 thatproject downward from the lower side of the chute and below its bottom.The pivot 32 is extended rightward as viewed in Fig. 2 and has mountedon it a tail piece 34 on which is slidably supported an adjustablecounter-balance or weight 35, the weight having a spring clip 36 whichiseifective to maintain it inadjustcd positions. It will be seen that byarranging the tailpiece at one side, its path of movefrccly upward tothe dotted line position of Fig. 1, thus enabling the closure or door 31to swing open and freely downward when acted on'by a coin of properweight. The

free end portion of said trap-door is preferably offset as shown at 31so as to provide a stop which contacts with the under face of the chutebottom 14 and prevents the counterweight 35 from swinging the upper oroperative face of the trap door upward above the planeof the bottom ofthe chute 14.

Normally the entire length of the chute floor is smooth anduninterrupted and the weight 35ofthe trap door is so adjusted andrejection receptacle 1 8. The trap door '31 normally closes the top of adownwardly extending zig-zagor variably curved chute element 37 whichcommunicateseventually with a suitable receptacle or holder. As hereinshown, there is interposed between the trap door and the coin holdercheck controlled mechanism, generally designated by the numeral 38. Itwill be understood that anycoin "ment will be unobstructed so that itcan swing of proper weight and fineness will depress the closure pr trapdoor 31 and pass downward through the chute 37 so as to become effectiveto release the check-controlled mechanism enablingit to'be operated.Thereafter the effective coin, which has been diagrammaticallyillustrated in three of its successive positions 39 39 and 39, will passdownward into a suitable coin receptacle within the cabinet 11 and notaccessible to the public.

For preliminar withdrawal of paramagnetic coins be ore theeleetro-magnet is reached, there may be provided a horse-shoe magnet 40secured at 41 to the inner face of the door 10 and so related to theoff-chute 19 that it will cause steel and iron coins and the like toturn the corner and pass downward through said chute, such a coin beingillus- Thus it will be apparent that only coins diama-gnetic in varyingdegrees will pass the turn connecting the chute elements 13 and ll androll freely down the inclined chute ll until they enter the magneticfield between the pole pieces 23, 23. As has been explained, themechanism provides practical means, comprising the closure 31 balancedin co-ordination with the inclined chute 14, for insuring that onlycoins of the weight and fineness for 'which the mechanism is designed tooperate will be effective, which, in the illustrated instance, meanswill open thetrap door and pass down through the operating chute 37 tothe associate mechanism 38.

, Various change may be made without departing from the invention, andone modification is illustrated in Fig. twhich, instead of showingrelatively movable coin chute sec.- tions, illustrates the coin chute ascomprised of sections 43, 44 and 45 which in effect constitute aone-piece sheet metal construction, together with the extensions andoft-chutes which correspond with those above described, This one-piececonstruction is feasible in practice since after repeated experimentshave shown the proper relative inclination of the chute elements, the-ymay be rigidly assembled. The opening at 46 may be suflieiently large tocommunicate properly with i the opening in allowance for any shitting orsetting.

It will be understood that my invention need not necessarily be employedwith mechanism relating to vending, dispensing or change making; andalso that various other changes besides those described may be madewithout departing from the invention.

I claim i 1. In coin selecting mechanism, the combination of a runway,an electro-magnet having its magnetic field disposed transversely of therunway, and a trap door in the runway underlying the magnetic fieldand'permitting the entrance of coins affected by said field.

2. In coin selecting mechanism, the combination of a runway, and anelectro-magnet having its pole pieces so arranged that the magneticfield is disposed transversely of the runway, the floor of the runwayhaving a yieldable portion directly beneath the pole. pieces andyielding to permit the passage of coins on which said field has apredetermined efi'ect.

3. In coin selecting mechanism, the combination of a runway, anelectro-magnet having its poles so arranged that the magnetic field isdisposed transversely of the runway, the floor of the runway having ayieldable portion directly beneath the magneticfield, said yieldableportion being normally maintained in the plane of the floor, and stopdevices for preventing movement of said yieldable portion above saidplane, said portionyielding to permit the passage of coins on which saidfield has a predetermined effect.

l. In coin selecting mechanism, the combination of an inclined coinchute, an electro magnet having its magnetic field disposedtrz'insversely of the chute between its ends, means for affordingvariation in' the inclination of the chute, and a yieldable trap door inthe floor of the chute directly under the magnetic field and normallymaintained in the inclined plane of said floor. 1

5. In coin selecting mechanism, the combination of a coin chute, anelectro' -magnet having its magnetic field, disposed transversely of thechute, and a t 'ap door pivot ally mounted on the chute and having itscontact tacenormally in the plane of the bottom of the chute butyielding to permit the passage of coins on which said field hasapredetermined eilcct. V l

6. In coin selecting mechanism, the combination of an inclined runway,an electromagnet having its magnetic field disposed transversely of therunway between its ends, means .tor affording variation in theinclination of the runway, a yieldable trap door in the floor'of therunwayfdirectly under the magneticfield, positively operating means fornormally, maintaining said door in the inclined plane of said floor, andineanstor varying the effect of said last recited'means in accordancewith variations in the inclination of the runway.

7. In coin selecting mechanism, the combination of a chute, a magnet forparamagnetic disks associated with one portion of said chute, anelectro-magnet associated with another or said chute portions and havingits magnetic field extending transversely across said portion, and atrap door in said last recited portions underlying the magnetic field.

8. In coin selecting mechanism, the combination of a coin chutecomprising a plurality of portions, a magnet for paramagnetic disksassociated with one of said portions, an oilchute from said chuteportion adjacent said magnet, an electro-magnet associated with a secondof said portions and having itsmagnetic field extending transverselyacross said portion, a trap door in said second portion underlying themagnetic field, and achute extenslon of said second portion beyond saidtrap door.

9. In C0111 selecting mechanisnnthe combination of a coin chutecom-prising diflerently disposed portions, a magnet forparamagnetimdisks associated with one of said portions, an off-chutefrom said portion ad jacent said magnet, an electrode-magnet associatedwith a second of said portions and having its magnetic field extendingtransversely across said portion, a trap door in said second portionunderlying the magnetic field, a chute extension of said second por tionbeyond said trap door, and a coin receptacle for rejected coins intowhich said chute extension and said off-chute both lead.

10. In a coin detector for check controlled mechanism, the combinationof a coin chute comprising relatively settable portions, a permanentmagnet associated with one of said portions, an elf-chute from saidchute portion adjacent said permanent magnet, an electro-magnetassociated with another, of said portions and having its magnetic fieldextending transversely across said portion, a trap door in said lastrecited portion underlying the magnetic field, a chute extension of saidlast named portion beyond said trap door, a rejection receptacle withwhich said chute extension and said off-chute both communicate, and achute extension leading from said trap door to the check controlledmechanism. I

11. In a coin detector for check controlled mechanism, the combinationof a runway, an electro-magnet having its magnetic field disposedtransversely of the runway, a trap door in the runway underlying themagnetiefield and operative by coins on which the field 1 has a certaineffect, and a coin chute communicating with said trapdoor and connectedwith said check controlled mechanism.-

12. In a fraud preventer, the combination of a runway, and anelectro-magnet having its poles so arranged that the magnetic field isdisposed transversely of the runway, the floor of the runway having ayieldable portion directly beneath the magnetic field, said yieldableportion being normally in the plane of the floor and controlled by stodevices to prevent its movement above said plane but being yieldable tocertain types only 0t coins affected by said field, and an adjustableweight for varying the operation of said door.

13. In a coin detector for check controlled mechanism, the combinationof an inclined com chute, an eleetro-magnet having horizontally disposedpole devices projecting through the sides of said coin chute, said I comchute being mounted on said po e pleces,

and means for affording variation in the inclination of said coin chute.

14. In a coin detector for check controlled mechanism. the.c0mbinationof an lnclined coin chute, an electro-magnet having horizontallydisposed pole pieces projecting through the sides of said coinchute,said coin chute being mounted on said pole pieces, means forafi'ordingvariation in the inclination of said coin chute, a trap doorpivotally mounted on said coin chute and having its body portionarranged in an openingin the bottom of said chute directly beneath saidpole pieces, said trap door having an off-set tail portion, and a Weightadj ustably mounted on said tail portion.

- Signed atthe borough of Manhattan, city,

county and State of New York, this 19th day of January, 1929. JOSEPH J,SCHERMACK.

chute, an electro-magnet having horizontally disposed pole devicesprojecting through the sidesof said coin chute, said coin chute and saidpole pieces Eomprising a unitary structure, means for affordingvariation in the inclination of said coin chute, and a trap doorpivotally mounted on said coin chute and arrangedfin an opening in thebottom of said chute directly beneath said pole pieces.

.15. In a coin detector for check controlled mechanism,theeombination-of an inclined

